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President Bush was visiting a primary school and asked the children if they
knew the meaning of the word “tragedy”.

One small boy stood up and offered, “If my best friend, who lives on a farm,
is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him, that would be a
tragedy”.

“No”, said Bush, “That would be an accident”.

Little Suzie raised her hand: “If a school bus carrying 50 children went
over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy”.

“I’m afraid not,” explained the president. “That’s what we would call a
great loss”.

The room fell silent until another little boy raised his hand and offered,
“If Air Force One carrying Mr.and Mrs. Bush was struck by a “friendly fire”
missile and blown to bits that would be a tragedy”

“Fantastic!” exclaimed Bush. “That’s right and can you tell me why that
would be a tragedy?”

“Well” came the reply, “It has to be a tragedy, because it wouldn’t be a
great loss and it probably wouldn’t be an accident either”.